Beck: Murder Fantasies Are Funny

Glenn Beck has expressed on-air desires to strangle Michael Moore with his own hands, beat Charles Rangel to death with a shovel, and once aired a sketch on his Fox News show that had him poisoning then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Appearing on the Today show this morning (1/19/11), responding to questions about his frequent murder fantasies (a specialty of Fox News personalities), Beck told host Meredith Vieira that he was just being funny. Beck said the host should ask Jon Stewart and the Simpsons the same question. “Comedy is comedy,” he explained.

Vieira did not point out that while Beck is a political commentator, the Simpsons is a cartoon, and Stewart is a comedian who is not known for fantasizing about the murder of people with whom he disagrees.

The reader can decide if continuous on-air fantasizing about the murderous deaths of one’s political foes is okay, as long as one says he isjoking.

I think it’s a problem, not least because hateful jokes are not always harmless, and because it’s often not clear when Beck is joking. After all, when one has just concluded a tirade against someone they portrayed as among the dark forces trying to steal the country, with a whimsical fantasy about that someone’s violent death–well, I think you get the point.

And sometimes Beck’s violent fantasies are clearly not jokes.

In March 2003, Beck was one of the most energetic war mongers in the country. He was organizing and addressing pro-war rallies for his radio employer, Clear Channel, and using his national radio show to disparage and smear anti-war figures on a regular basis. In a program I heard on WABC-AM in New York City (3/16/03), Beck inveighed furiously against the anti-war activism of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D.-Ohio), in a tirade that concluded with the host, in all angry sincerity, wishing to see Kucinich burned alive: “Every night I get down on my knees and pray that Dennis Kucinich will burst into flames.”

Senior Media Analyst and Co-producer of CounterSpin Steve Rendall is FAIR's senior analyst. He is co-host of CounterSpin, FAIR's national radio show. His work has received awards from Project Censored, and has won the praise of noted journalists such as Les Payne, Molly Ivins and Garry Wills. He is co-author of The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error (The New Press, 1995, New York City). Rendall has appeared on dozens of national television and radio shows, including appearances on CNN, C-SPAN, CNBC, MTV and Fox Morning News. He was the subject of a profile in the New York Times (5/19/96), and has been quoted on issues of media and politics in publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and New York Times. Rendall contributed stories to the International Herald Tribune from France, Spain and North Africa; worked as a freelance writer in San Francisco; and worked as an archivist collecting historical material on the Spanish Civil War and the volunteers who fought in it. Rendall studied philosophy and chemistry at San Francisco State University, the College of Notre Dame and UC Berkeley.

Who is more despicable, Beck for being who he is or a “mainstream” figure like Vieira for not challenging him on it? Sometimes it’s hard to decide. Or perhaps I should also add in NBC for permitting a flagship show like Today to allow such a fascist and hatemonger on as a guest in the first place.

I could not expect less from those who with blood lust, would desire conquest and war, to hope for demise of even verbal foes. The breast is not easily hidden from view! Perhaps their only expected redemption is suicide.

I think it would help to stress a lot more strongly that the context in which such comments are made is far more important than the comments themselves.

The American conservative elite, of which Beck is one of the most prominent members at the moment, offer up a narrative of what happens in the U.S. It isn’t perfectly homogeneous, there are different gradations, internal contradictions, and so on, but, Big Picture, it’s basically the same story. It’s offered 24 hours/day, every day, via an omnipresent multimedia behemoth unlike anything the world has ever known. It’s directed at personalities, and it is aimed, in almost every particular, at demonizing, delegitimizing, and dehumanizing their enemies. And it’s always “enemies,” never people with whom they merely disagree–the narrative, in fact, doesn’t allow any room for honest disagreement, just ill-intentions–and the enemies are presented as enemies of mankind itself. “Socialism,” the frequent charge, is an invocation of Soviet-style totalitarianism, with all that entails, and has also been made a synonym, in the narrative, for “liberalism.” The “liberals” are, of course, monsters. For some of the most overt examples of this, look at Beck’s many on-air displays linking up run-of-the-mill liberal politicians, and even center-right ones like Obama (and anyone who isn’t far-right is, by the narrative, “liberal”) with Hitler, Stalin, etc. Tell any reasonable person that the President of the United States is trying to set up death panels aimed at killing old people and they’d reject you as an utter crank. It would be reflexive, in the face of such a ludicrous charge. When, on the other hand, the conservatives were told this, huge numbers of them not only bought it hook, line, and sinker; they believed it strongly enough that angry mobs of them descended on every health-care townhall members of congress were holding, screeching like crazed animals and preempting any rational discussion (a Pew poll at the time showed that 47% of Republicans thought the legislation did, indeed, set up these panels, with another 20% choosing “unsure”). That’s how they’ve been conditioned to see “liberals.” Barack Obama is opposed not because he supports Policy A, B, or C, but because he is a Kenyan socialist who wants to set up those government panels to kill old people, manage a government takeover of industry, and destroy capitalism and the American way of life. And so on.

The lack of “civility” in this narrative is not the problem with it. There is this massive right-wing machine that runs on generating a persistent state of outrage among a large segment of the public, and the problem, rather than being one of incivility, is that this outrage on which it runs is based on fantasy. Fiction. A string of lies. Someone who is opposed to Obama because he’s a Kenyan socialist isn’t opposed to Obama at all–he’s opposed to a fantasy of Obama that has been put into his head. The narrative has little connection to basic reality, intentionally aims to disconnect people from that reality, and discourages inquiry that may reconnect them; part of it is that things like legitimate news sources, academia, etc.–those who don’t peddle the narrative–aren’t to be trusted.

If you honestly believe the things the right says about its enemies, it’s not only a rational step to act on it; it becomes, at some point, tantamount to outright insanity if one FAILS to act on it. The American conservative elite recognizes this basic fact, as well–it’s the very reason they offer up such a narrative. They hope people will become inflamed and show up at the polls. To point out the obvious, though, when you disconnect people from reality then inflame them to that degree, there’s no way to control the means by which they act. Most people who imbibe the right’s narrative won’t, it’s true, resort to murder, because to kill someone is a huge step people will naturally resist. The right’s rhetoric breaks down that resistance. And, I would add, it has absolutely no value as political discourse.

The real danger we face, insofar as violence is concerned, isn’t primarily from mentally disturbed people (who can just as easily be set off by Bugs Bunny cartoons as by some clown on Fox). It’s from people who are “sane”–as sane as one can be and still be what is, today, a “conservative–and who take seriously the right’s narrative.

This is why things like Beck indulging in murder fantasies is a problem. Rendall basically hits the nail on the head.

great article,classicliberal, this is all supported by Corporations/ bought and sold supreme court’ in the billions of dollars to push their agenda for almost 100 years these robber barons must protect their interestat what ever the cost,they always did own the media,newspapers,radio,tv news channels,religious orgs.the military and it works,… they have brainwash the american public and convinced them that all other ideas are foreign’ to the american way of life..what dont we understand!!

“Most people who imbibe the right’s narrative won’t, it’s true, resort to murder, because to kill someone is a huge step people will naturally resist. The right’s rhetoric breaks down that resistance.”

But some of those people who wouldn’t resort to murder you might try other things to silence you.

I was in Duluth, MN as part of an anti-war march in 2003. Later that same day Glenn Beck was holding a pro-war rally by the harbor. His people were very excited and we were met with obcenities and taunts. One of those pro-war people drove his car towards part of our group, which included mothers with infants, as we crossed 3rd Avenue West on Superior Street.

Beck’s hate-filled rhetoric has been affecting people for a long time.

Beck’s show does not epitomize comedy. He is straight faced, often times yelling at the screen to make his point. If this is his version of comedy, the laugh is on him. Nothing but nothing is comical about this man’s views. He can have views, that’s not the problem, but if he considers this comedy, then he should announce that this is a satire at least. Funny he is not. His delivery is good, but that about all one can say about his dribble otherwise. Most often his claims are so false, you have to say to yourself, “yeah, right” – meaning sure, great lie.

ClassicLiberal2’s comment should be published. You’ve said what I would have liked to say, but couldn’t put quite so well. Thank You.

I’d like to say also, that I suspect that Glenn Beck is somewhat surprised that idiotic rants are taken so seriously. My guess is that he started doing it as some sort of semi-comic routine, then got entranced by the influence he had over people, leading him to up the ante and follow the right-wing narrative more consistently. It also seems that this power has really corrupted him (or more corrupted him). If he ever gains the political power of office, that could spell real trouble.

I don’t know if Beck was corrupted. He’s been the way he is for as long as I’ve followed him. He’s an enthusiast of conspiracist cranks, and his “politics”–if the word can be applied to what he does without stretching it to meaninglessness–seems to have come primarily from this.

Nice work, classicalliberal2, though I’d disagree about Beck being a member of the “conservative elite.” Beck understands that to gull the hapless proles who believe in him, all one has to do is ham it up and lay out the classic memes that have gotten the ill-educated (or harried, very busy, scraping-along working class) excited and pissed-off for the last forty years or so. Beck is most definitely “New Money,” a cad and a bounder who probably embarrasses most of the Old Money people (think of the Bush family), who know better than to come right out and screech about the Liberals and taxes and war. Palin is Beck’s natural ally–another low-rent freak who discovered that gulling the confused and ignorant working class (the rich and the powerful and the Corporate world are on your side, Joe-Six-Pack–really!) is their ticket to big dollars. They’ll never fit in with the conservative elites, no matter what they do, but their goals are the same–they don’t want to be troubled by the outrage of an income tax, and by being governed by people they think are their vassals.
P.S.: Is Beck dangerous? Yes, he is. Sooner or later, some asshole or deranged, sick person is going to murder some people (with a gun, naturally) who Beck demonized on his show. I’m personally worried about Francis Fox Piven–Beck’s imbecile rantings and lies about her suggest that Ms. Piven should hire a personal security firm. We all know that a deranged person actually was on his way to the Tides foundation, armed with guns and the vicious, stupid lies of Beck. This is the connection to violent, lying talk that was made by sensible people after the Giffords assassination attempt, one the “lamestream media” sudiously avoided.

“Low-rent freaks” accurately describes most of the American conservative elite. Beck and Palin are no different, in any meaningful way, from people like Hannity, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, etc., or, in the print press, Ann Coulter, Thomas Sowell, Cal Thomas, or, in elected office, James Inhofe, Mitch McConnell, Darryl Issa, Allen West (one of the most recent additions), and the rest. These “low-rent freaks” are the new conservative elite. They offer up a pseudo-populism to draw followers, and behind it, their goal is keeping right-wing corporate shills running things. “Old school” conservatives like Bob Dole, the first Bush, etc., would, indeed, be disgusted by them, but they haven’t been a factor in U.S. politics for years.

OK you lot of tight ass college puddins…..He has never( in my hearing said any such thing) in a serious framework.In print it may sound that way.So does an SNL skit.Or John Stewart sarcasm.If you want to go into the idea that all comedy has an ounce of truth ok .But really time to unlock those butts.You dont like him….turn the channel.I do with Kieth O and Bill from Mars all the time.It is still fantastic to have their shows around- though i have little agreement with them.

I’ll admit all this talk of civility and ‘don’t demonize those who disagree’ gets me very confused. Experience has taught me that ‘civility’ will be anything Republicans say and it will be the Democrats who will be cast as ‘uncivil’ in the long run. No one can beat a Republican at grasping his/her chest and collapsing on their fainting couch at some perceived attack. Oddly enough they are quite hardy when defending their own vitriol. What progressives need is a drama coach in order to compete.

I would seriously like to understand this business of treating everyone with respect and no one with contempt. It’s easy to say I agree but right off I find myself hearing death fantasies and out and lies from the right and I’m honestly confused about how I am to muster ‘respect’ for those who do these things. If I am to be honest, I cannot muster respect for people I have seen do extremely devious and hateful things. So how am I to say I respect Glenn Beck as a person when, quite frankly, I imagine that he is, from all indications, a pretty odious person? If you are truly a good natured, well intended person, you don’t choose hatred as an ‘entertainment’. It isn’t just the obvious culprits on TV and radio. Conservative Republicans in Congress and 1/2 the line up for the Republican presidential primary appear to barely contain their hatred of the left. Most of the Tea Party people don’t even bother to contain it.

I don’t get it. Other than their biological designation as ‘human’…what is the criteria for respect?

I think you’re misunderstanding what’s going on here, Pam. This has nothing to do with respect. The Rightists and reactionaries (Beck, Palin, most of the Republican party, and most of the “Lamestream” media) couldn’t care less about civility, or democracy, or freedom of speech, or your miserable, liberal, puny life. They are beneath contempt, and when one or more of them rise to the level of your contempt, you should treat them with contempt. Contempt for the contemptible, o.k.? They don’t have any worthwhile ideas, and feel no compunction whatsoever to tell the truth or act in a decent, nice way to the people they imagine, in their warped, power-mad, sick ways, their inferiors. The criterion for respect is pretty straight-forward–treat others as you expect to be treated yourself. This is manifestly not what your average Right-winger believes–indeed, their motto is, bluntly, “Fuck over someone if you can, preferably whole groups of people you imagine to be your enemies. If an extra percentage point is available through a thorough screwing over of your neighbor, then you must do it.”
So, the next time you see some fraud like Glenn Beck, on the teevee, hurl scorn and derision in the general direction of the weasel. If someone thinks you’ve gone Too Far, and are “uncivil,” point out that Beck is the livin’, breathin’ epitome of sick profiteering and stupid, violent-minded right-wing anti-democratic numb-skullery. Every time that asshole opens his mouth (same goes for Palin, O’reilly, Hannity, Bush, et. al.), our democracy dies a little more. Remember: To use lies to slander and call for the death of others you disagree with is the Totalitarian urge felt so easily by the Rightists and avaricious dumbells on the anti-democratic Right. To use the Truth and call out liars like Beck is the most basic way one exercises one’s freedom of speech in a democracy. It’s easy to go along with the ignorant herd, and sit there and watch silently as Beck or Palin or Hannity calmly lie and incite violence against innocent people. It’s the true patriot who understands they may get their ass kicked by a fool, but they still are going to speak truth to power, no matter how far removed from change for the better they are.

Well Raymond We on the conservative side will use your words about me as our mantra.We know you have an opinion but we no longer care to hear it.If history is the teacher that is.
You see everything Pam and TimN articulate… is exactly what we feel about your side.So how do we work together?Well i actually agree with Rom Emanuel and Nancy Palosi’s method.They never sat down with the Republicans.They closed all doors,and made no excuse about it.Obama said hey guys i won. Which translates into “get to the back of the bus, or get off”.They understood that they were diametrically opposed to What the right wanted.Sometimes they were opposed to what America wanted(as shown by the polls and the vote)I at least respected that courage of conviction.Well now the right is up to bat and as always the calls for civility go out that are never heard about the brutal Chicago political structure.Sorry guys,you made this bed now your damn well gonna lie in it.We can work together when and if you come to your senses.Smaller government.Less taxes.Balanced budget.An adherence to the constitution. Capitalist principles.Rights of the individual over the collective.A dismantling of the Obama healthcare ,and moves toward carbon taxes.And end to the creation of a Nanny state on the backs of those who produce.A move to make this country the most hospitable country to business.And a recreation of wealth which can only come about by government loosening the controls.These are just a few things.I dont expect you to agree on these blogs.I expect you to become apoplectic.And thats Ok.That is America.We in the Tea Party mean to take it back.And we will honor you by talking straight and holding to the courage of our convictions.We will not bend or become like the jello at the top as we prepare to nail him to the wall.To quote your president…You bring a knife to a fight.. we will bring our constitution.And if America thinks we speak for her than that will be that.Civility?In my eyes there has been no incivility from either side of any great merit.It is the disagreement that has been so strong.And why not?This is the most left leaning bunch America has ever seen.America will soon let the second shoe drop in her displeasure.Our process is alive and well, and will not be cowed by the attempt to silence- under the guise of civility. Well Im gonna go now and listen to the President bullshit the night away.

Anybody see the presidents campaign speech last night?I mean state of the union address?How come when he said we need bullet trains like France and China nobody noticed he said a dirty, violent word?Bullet.We cant say crosshairs….. we cant say bullet. How bout we call it a rooty tooty fast and fruity train?
Glens Becks take is hysterical. Especially when he pulls a John Stewart and plays the same exact promises obama made now 3 times in a row(especially on certain trade agreements he never acted on)then he asks for a Trillion dollars, harking back to Austin powers Dr Evil. What a joke.He must think we are all brainless twits.Click on Glen Beck and Dr Evil. What a hoot. Did you see who “dated”who last night?Jesus h christ

Eugene he most def has a strong comedy parody aspect as does Jon Stewart.He is also a fount of information and opinion.Of course it is a free country and no need to agree with him.$ hours a day and an hour at night

When the Republicans were in charge they had no need for the Democrats and locked them out of rooms all of the time. Obama gives them 99% of what they want and they call him a ‘socialist’ what a joke that is. Just like Clinton did. What the Republican could not pass a DINO does it easily. Time and again.

But concerning Beck, he may be unhinged, but it makes for a good show. Just not to me. His murder fantasies are disturbing yet he gets off scott free. He and all of them have protection unlike those at MSNBC who will be next to be bumped off there?

Nightgaunt .I can’t for the life of me think of anything Obama has given to the Republicans.He never needed them at all.And there was nothing they could block.And I suppose the outrage America showed at some of his policies helped the Republicans to de-fang those policies.But?????What have the two sides agreed on?
Concerning Beck….I think his shows used to be better.When he concentrated more on Political commentary and opinion and less on passionate warnings ,tinged with some(some i say)religious overtones.Im not even saying he is wrong.I happen to think on most things he is spot on.It just gets to be a weary process.Rush has a better show flat out.I think even Glen would admit that.I loved Howard Stern.Now Im a bit bored by it.Maybe that is the natural turn.But in the end who stays and who goes will be based on market share.Believe me ,if Beck had no audience he would be dead in the water.And it is just as weary to hear his audience is made up of creatons.They are a cross section of America and huge in size.Sorry folks ,live with it.